San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-04-19

air OF speaking 10 lipNoklhEi!u ull GNU J
''but you see how completely it places our
family in his power"
Sibyl started up.
"And YOU mean to tell me-" she cried,
with Indignation, "that Mark has been
mean enough TO try Ia brighten me into q
marriage with hint | won't believe il Of
him, Amaranthl lie is too good fellow"
THE best fellows, you will find. my
dear are more or less the slaves Of their
caprices-or passions, if you like to call
them So The word seems to me too strong
to apply to anything men feel nowadays
and l suppose Mark Breton is no eXeep-
ton TO the rule Of his noble sex. How
ever" Mrs. Carruthers rose too, and
walked TO the window TO ascertain that
her fly was still there-"you have heard
what l came down-at the Countess's
request-to say. II all rests with you.
OF course we understand that, should
you refuse Mr.. Breton again, the law
must take its course. l don't see why we
should expect anything else"
"Because you don't know Mark as well
as do" declared Sibyl, her brown eyes
frightening.
IL know men and the world much bet
ter, am sorry to say"
sand besides"-the utter impracticabil-
ity of her accepting Marks offer kept ST.
byl quite calm-"even if were willing
which / am MOTTO do as you suggest, 1
could not. i am engaged"-a beautiful
proud blush rose in the girls face-"to
Percival"
Mrs. Carruthers came back from the
window, and began to put on her gloves,
standing.
"Mamma said there was something Of
Indifference. "Those boy and girl affairs
never come to anything. Percival, am
sure, would be the very last ne to wish
you to keep promise of that sort when
our family honor was at stake"
sand how about mine 2" demanded ST.
byl CURLY.
"Yours, Of course, is the same as ours"
The girl put her hands YEARLY to her
aching head.
ave are talking in different languages,
Amaranth," she said. 81 don't understand
yours, and don't want to understand it
but you can tell the Countess from me
that cannot marry Mr.. Breton because
1 am engaged to Percival, and that am
quite sure, that if l could see Mark and
explain matters, he would not wish it, or
do any thing cruel to aunt Annals son, no
matter how he wronged him. He prom
Used to be friend to me if the need
should ever arise"
sand l think he is keeping his word as
mems words go. Don't expect too much
from him, Sibyl."
Il must go to aunt Anna" said Sibyl
shortly, sand tell Dixon about your ROOM"
"Thank you, no; shall be in time for
the last train" Amaranth began to fasten
her fur paletot again. ~ can do no good
by staying; and l have the children to
think of, of course. l confess l had not
the least hope when set out; so do not
go back greatly disappointed. Girls seem
TO have such odd notions of late. l don't
know how it is. / am sure Philippa and
Imogen and AnnabeF-these were Lady
Anna Lansing's other daughters-"took
but uuSLduNl . lIdb "tTt lOullu lbI lLClil
so did mine, and made no objections
Women must marry, suppose. There
is no other hope for them that / can
see in this world; so why make fuss
about itT
"You were not engaged to any one
else" retorted Sibyl, flashing round indig-
nantly at the door, ut is easy for you to
talkr
"If we had been engaged-I speak for
myself-it would have been just the
same. But we"-Mrs. Carruthers was
methodically adjusting her bonnet-strings
at the glass over the fire-thought more
of our father and mother perhaps than
you younger girls do. Sentiment is a very
fine thing, no doubt, when it does not lead
to laying heavier burdens on an old mans
back, or to bringing shame on his wife's
honorable namew
"Why do you say am burden TO I'M
Gle Lansing and aunt Annaf" cried Sibyl,
grudge the expense l am to themR Why,
if they had only a potato left they would
not eat it unless ate half! They know
whether am grateful or not. 1t is not a
thing to be talked about-it can only be
felty
Before Amaranth could answer, the
door opened, and Lady Anna came into
the room lettering on Dixon's faithful arm.
Her poor face was white and drawn with
pain, her eyes wild and wandering. Sibyl
flew to her side; a great sharp pang smote
her TO the very core of her heart as she
saw the poor shaking hands, the piteoas
forced smile with which the suffering wo-
man tried to greet her.
"Darling,' Sibyl said, folding her strong
young arms about her and ten,lerly lead
ing her to the chair by the Are, "don't
look like that Try to be comforted.-
What Clement has done can never touch
you and uncle Lansing, who have spent
your lives in self-denial and in doing good
to every one about you. Aunt Anna,
won't you speak to met Don't you know
that am here, and that will take care
of you'll"
~ was always the unlucky one-and
that was what my mother said" Lady
Anna began to stroke the girls shining
head as she knelt before her, but she was
looking beyond her into vacancy; she
hardly heard the tender young voice or
understood what Sibyl had said. Il did
my best for my children; Heaven knows
that 1 did! But it was of no use; and
shame has fallen on me in my old age"
"Hush. darling, hushn whispered Sibyl,